nOur canine companions offer us friendship, love, understanding, all unadulterated. They are our joyful playmates and our furry shoulders to cry on, from the cradle to the grave. n This book brings together some of the finest poems on dogs by a range of poets from Diogenes to Dorothy Parker, from Chaucer to Clarice Lispector. Gertrude Stein once said, I am I because my little dog knows me, and this collection proves it: with their wit, their wisdom, and their delights, these poems--and the dogs that inspired them--hold up a mirror to our better selves. n Whether exploding with the joy of a new puppy or mourning the loss of a tender lifelong friend, growling a critique at the more civilized habits of humans or simply spending a day in the life of a favorite pet, these poems offer something to dog lovers, poets, and poetry readers: in short, just about everyone.